Families East Issue 85

Issue 85 May/June 2015

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East London

Spring into summer

Health & Happiness Clubs & Classes Places to Go

Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities • Courses mapped to the National Curriculum.

• Adapts to the individual needs of your child.

• Convenient for families - Open 7 days a week.

• Award-winning tuition - voted Education Investor Supplementary Education Provider of the Year.

“Explore Learning members’ improvement in maths was 30% higher than that of the comparison group after controlling for gender, age, year group and special educational needs.”

Independent Efficacy Study by the Institute of Education at Reading University (2013). See www.explorelearning.co.uk/efficacy.

are s c ild her ! h C uc pted Vo acce

Reservations for our next FREE Taster Days currently taking place Please visit www.annafiorentini.com or ring 020 7682 1403 for more details.

Fiorentini’s Got Talent Winner, Jermain Jackman, goes on to win The Voice!

The Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School for 3–18 years Based in North London, Hackney, Docklands, Bethnal Green and Lewisham, the award winning Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School for 3–18 year olds offers so much more than the average part-time drama school.

Apart from a weekly time-table of drama, film, dance and singing, all taught by leading industry professionals including casting directors, producers and TV directors, the school also offers: • Professional work via the agency.

Students have appeared in EastEnders, Rev, Top Boy, The Revolting World of Stanley Brown, the British feature Song for Marion and in the West End’s Oliver!, Lion King and Matilda, to name but a few.

Anna Fiorentini.indd 1

• Young Ambassadors – a chance to event manage and gain valuable business skills.

• Our Performance Troupe which performs in hospitals, homes for the elderly, festivals and at community events.

• Lamda Qualifications in drama which carry UCAS points • Shows at prestigious theatres such as the Hackney Empire and the Shaw Theatre • Competitions including Voice Idol, Stars in Their Eyes and Fiorentini’s Got Talent • Annual Oscar Nights • Parents’ Forums • Master classes including stagecraft, hair & make-up, stage combat and presenting • Holiday schools

Drama, Singing, Dance, Film, Set & Costume Design for ages 3–18 Saturdays in North London & Hackney Tuesdays in Bethnal Green Wednesdays in Docklands Thursdays in Lewisham

ANNA FIORENTINI

THEATRE FILM SCHOOL Contact us to book your free no obligation Taster Day. Hurry – Limited Places!

www.ANNAFIORENTINI.com Tel: 020 7682 1403 01/10/2014 16:14

Contents Issue 85 | May/June 2015 | Families East London

This Issue

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6

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4 How to Survive a Sleepover Party 6 Annabel Karmel 8 Wellbeing

Regular Features 9 Clubs & Classes

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14

13 Places to Go

Families East London Magazine 120 Brent Street, Hendon, London NW4 2DT For all news and features contact: editor@familieseast.co.uk or call 020 8202 2034 For all advertising enquiries contact: adverts@familieseast.co.uk or call 020 8202 2034 For all web enquiries contact: adverts@familieseast.co.uk or call 020 8202 2034 For all listing enquiries contact: listings@familieseast.co.uk Families East London Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, details are subject to change and Families East London take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any material. All rights reserved.

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Welcome

to our May/June Issue. As we look forward to a hopefully glorious summer ahead we hope you enjoy the magazine and all its features.

Never miss a copy! To ensure you never miss a copy of your families magazine subscribe today and receive a digital online version copy of the magazine completely FREE every two months as soon as it’s published. Email us at subscribe2@familieseastlondon@hotmail.co.uk.

Until next time.

Sharon Editor

The Ice Queen Summer holiday fun for 4–7s Put on a fantastic show at our fun-packed drama, dance and singing courses and have the coolest summer ever!

Call 0845 400 1271 or visit perform.org.uk/icequeen

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parties

...survive a O T W HO sleepover party Love them or hate them, you will be asked at some point to host a sleepover.

Sarah Butters looks at how best to survive them and how to avoid repeating the experience in the future.

LATE DROP, EARLY COLLECT The thought of a sleepover is bearable if you know there is an end to it all. Make it clear at the point of invite when your hospitality begins and ends. I’ve found a late afternoon drop – co-inciding with teatime – is best with a pick up between 9 and 10am. This means your exhausted guests, now suffering from an additive hangover, can have their post sleepover meltdown in the comfort of their own home. You are left with a full day to scrape melted chocolate and squashed Haribo from your beige carpet.

HAVE A PLAN Don’t imagine that five 8 year olds will be able to occupy themselves without incident. They won’t. Well they will, but rest assured it will end in a lot of tired tears. Follow teatime with a fun activity – karaoke, Wii fun or a board game – before a DVD to take you through until bedtime. I have heard reports of parents putting their children through 100 bounces on the garden trampoline prior to heading upstairs to maximise exhaustion but you may feel that’s a step too far.

PREPARE FOR LATE NIGHT LEAVERS There’s a pretty high chance that one of your guests will want to leave.

The reality of a night spent away from

home can be a little too much for some children. Be warned, homesickness is catching and once one begins to wobble, you could find your other guests follow.

Make sure you have the parents contact details for all your guests if you do need to make a late night collection call.

KEEP IT SIMPLE Think camping indoors and you’ve got the perfect sleepover. One of my daughter’s favourite nights away from home saw seven children sleeping top to toe, in sleeping bags on the bedroom floor of their friend. Not a king size Aerobed in sight. We’ve invested in our new favourite wearable sleeping bag, the SLPY for sleepover invites. Get yours at www.slpy.com ADMIT DEFEAT You aren’t going to be able to stay up late enough to check your guests are all asleep. Their very purpose is to out ‘stay up’ the adults in the house so in many ways, reminding them you are still

One of my daughter’s favourite nights away from home saw seven children sleeping top to toe, in sleeping bags on the bedroom floor of their friend. Not a king size Aerobed in sight.

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awake only makes for a later bedtime.

Lay out the ground rules when you say your final (ish) goodnight and leave them to it. Some will fall asleep, some will chat and only in the very worst case scenario will they raid your sweet cupboards in the early hours to replenish their sleep starved bodies. Removal of electrical devices is a good move – especially in tweenage girls – as the cyber world can be an inviting but frightening place in the small hours of the morning.

KEEP YOUR DIARY CLEAR Plan nothing for the following day. You will have slept like a meerkat balancing on a branch. Your child will have crashed late and woken with the lark.

In short, your family is fit for nothing and planning even the most straight forward activity is doomed to failure.

Then, as night falls, raise a glass to the fact your survived your first sleepover.

Like childbirth, you’ll need some time to forget the pain before you do it all again.

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parties ‘I hate them. My girls love them, so we have them. I don’t like the bickering and falling out while they are playing and I don’t like the fact that I have to nag them to shut up and go to sleep. I prefer to have friends individually as the noise level is lower and there is more chance of actual sleep. Big groups have me on the verge of packing a suitcase!’

Rachel, Mum of 3 from Leeds

‘They have nothing to do with sleep! It sounds like a lovely concept but the reality is that there is always one kid who gets home sick – or just sick – and no one sleeps. Your house gets trashed and you end up with a stroppy child the next day.

In short my sleepovers have turned into ‘tea and pyjamas evenings’ ending at 9pm!

Does that make me a bad Mummy or a clever Mummy?’

Sally, Mum of 2 from Menston

Sleepover? They should be called Stay Awake-overs according to Families Leeds sleep expert Sarah Barnes from Gentle Sleep Solutions.

Here’s her advice for making your night a success.

1. Only invite a small group for a child’s first sleep over.

2. Discuss with parents of invited children any allergies, medication, comfort objects or other needs.

3. Make sure you have boundaries in place to avoid chaos. Make the children aware

New development checks Parents are to get a complete picture of their child’s development at the age of two, as part of new reforms to help families. With over £2 million pledged to support joined-up checks on education and health development, parents will now have a better picture of their child’s progress at this early stage. ‘No parent should be left in the dark about their child’s development,’ said Childcare Minister Sam

Ask the Expert

of their bedtime, the no-go areas in the house or garden following that bedtime and the rules regarding the use of gadgets.

4. Make sure you have contact numbers for all parents in case of late night homesickness.

5. Let the sleep over guests know where you are sleeping and let them know they can wake you in an emergency.

6. Arrange a definite pick up time the next day. Children, especially younger ones are usually ready to go home and sleep! www.gentlesleepsolutions.co.uk

Gyimah. ‘There should be an accessible check for all at the age of two, which is a pressure point where issues such as speech delay and behavioural problems begin to appear. Today’s announcement will mean more families can get valuable information in a more convenient way.’ Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter added, ‘We know it’s important to check children’s health and development when they are two, so that if extra support is needed it can be

‘Most children are never any trouble, as long as you accept it will be a late night.

Only on a couple of occasions have Mums had to come and collect. Once when my middle son was just 6 it was clear his friend would not settle. I rang his Mum and she popped round, only for my son to come marching out with his coat over his pyjamas, a backpack on, saying ”Is it OK if I come back with you – it is meant to be a sleepover after all!’’’

Vicki, Mum of 3 from Yeadon

The thought of a sleepover is bearable if you know there is an end to it all. Make it clear at the point of invite when your hospitality begins and ends. identified early. Integrated reviews and the huge increase in health visitors will lead to better outcomes for children and families.’

The Integrated Review, which will be implemented nationally from September 2015, will be available to children between 24 and 30 months old.

Download your What To Expect When guide from the Foundation Years website www.gov.uk/dfe

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annabel karmel

Party Food Party food can be as wild and whacky as you want it, a real excuse to let out your inner child and make food with as much embellishment as you like.

Flower Pot Cakes from Princess Party Cookbook, Ebury Press, £12.99

Makes 4 Chocolate Cakes 110 g (4 oz) butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 110 g (4 oz) golden caster sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp of vanilla extract 85 g (3 oz) self-raising flour 4 tbsp cocoa powder Pinch of salt Decoration 280 g (10 oz) ready-made light brown regal icing, or 280 g (10 oz) ready-made white royal icing coloured brown by mixing together yellow, red and black food colouring

3 tbsp apricot jam 100 g (3½ oz) white chocolate 20 g (¾ oz) desiccated coconut Yellow and orange M&Ms Some drops of green food colouring or ½ tsp Japanese green tea powder 8 wooden skewers Icing sugar, for dusting You will also need 4 dariole moulds, a 900 g (2 lb) loaf tin, a star or flower shaped cookie cutter (about 4 cm/2 in), a tear shaped cookie cutter and some baking parchment Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) Fan 160°C. Grease 4 Dariole moulds and line the bases with circles of baking parchment.

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Grease the loaf tin and line with baking parchment.

Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and vanilla then beat into the butter mixture a little at a time. Sift over the flour, cocoa and salt and fold in well. Divide between the prepared moulds to half-full. The remaining mixture goes into the loaf tin; spread it evenly, about 1 cm (½ in) thick.

Place the dariole moulds and the loaf tin in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes until risen and firm. Allow to cool and then remove from the dariole moulds and the loaf tin to a wire rack until completely cold.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the light brown royal icing to make 20 x 30cm (8 x 12 in) rectangle. Using a sharp knife and a ruler, cut the icing to fit around the sides of the dariole cakes, so they look like pots – about 5-6cm (2-2½ in), depending on how high the cakes are – then make four thin strips, about 1.5cm (1 in) for the pot rims.

Re-roll the trimmings to make the strips, if necessary.

Warm the apricot jam gently in a small pan and brush the sloped sides of the dariole cakes with the jam. Wrap the brown icing around the cakes, and gently press to help the icing to stick to the cake.

Trim away the excess. Attach the strips of icing to make a rim on each flowerpot, using a little water if necessary.

Using a cookie cutter, cut out four flower shapes and leaves from the loaf-tin cake. Break the white chocolate into small pieces and melt over a bowl of simmering water. Dip one side of the flower cakes into the chocolate and cool on a wire rack.

Sprinkle with coconut of top and place an M&M in the centre.

Add some drops of the green food colouring or the green tea powder to the rest of the melted chocolate. Dip the leaves into the green chocolate and set aside to harden. To serve, attach the flower and the leaves to the pot using wooden skewers (remove skewers before eating).

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Princess Party Cookbook, Ebury Press

Tropical Smoothie Delicious fruits grow on tropical islands – mango, pineapple, vanilla and coconut.

Whizzed together they make a luscious smoothie, perfect for sipping on the beach.

You could add a squeeze of lime juice but I like the creamy sweetness of this recipe. The mangoes do need to be ripe. You can freeze the mango and banana to make a thicker drink or just use the fruit unfrozen.

Makes 2 portions (easily increased) 1 small banana, peeled and sliced into 2cm chunks 1 large, very ripe mango – peeled, pitted and cut into 2cm chunks 200ml (7fl oz) pineapple juice 2 tbsp vanilla yoghurt 2 tbsp coconut milk 1-2 tsp honey (to taste) Slices of fresh pineapple, maraschino cherries and umbrellas, to decorate Put the mango and banana in a resealable bag and freeze for 3-4 hours, until firm.

(This makes a thicker drink, but you can use the fruit unfrozen, if you prefer.) Put the fruit chunks, pineapple juice, yoghurt, coconut milk and 1 tsp honey in a blender and whiz until smooth. Taste and add the extra teaspoon of honey if needed. Pour into chilled glasses and decorate with slices of pineapple, maraschino cherries and umbrellas to serve.

Party planning – the fruit can be prepared and frozen up to 1 week in advance.

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annabel karmel

Coconut Prawn Skewers Succulent seafood is a mainstay of the islands and perfect for a BBQ as they cook quickly.

I have threaded some red onions on to the skewers to make them look a bit more interesting, but you can leave them out if you prefer. If you butterfly the prawns (make a deep cut down the back) they curve nicely.

Leave the tails on for a more attractive presentation.

Makes 8 skewers 100ml (3½ fl oz) creamed coconut Juice 1/2 lime 2 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp sweet chilli sauce, or honey 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 1 clove garlic, crushed 16 extra large raw prawns (approx.

300g/11oz), shells removed and de-veined.

1 red onion, cut into thin wedges (optional) Lime wedges, to serve You will also need 8 wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes.

Mix together the coconut milk, lime, soy and sweet chilli sauces, ginger and garlic with a little freshly ground black pepper.

Add the prawns and toss to coat, then cover and marinate in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours, or preferable overnight.

Remove the prawns from the marinade.

Thread 1 piece of red onion onto a skewer (if using), followed by a prawn, another piece of red onion, a second prawn and finally a third piece of red onion.

Barbecue the skewers over medium-hot coals for 3 minutes, then turn and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the prawns are pink and cooked through and the red onions are soft.

The skewers can also be cooked under a grill that has been pre-heated to high. Serve with lime wedges.

Mini Pizza Faces Ingredients Half a small red onion, chopped (25g) 2 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp tomato puree 2 tsp sundried tomato paste 1 tbsp later 2 English muffins 2 tbsp sweetcorn 2 slices of ham 25g Mozzarella or grated Cheddar Suggested Toppings (enough for 2 pizzas) mushrooms, sliced and sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil 1 ring pineapple, diced Stoned black olives, thinly sliced Baby courgette, thinly sliced and sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil Sunblush tomatoes, diced 1 rasher cooked bacon, crumbled Strips of sweet pepper Mini Face Pizza

If you don’t have time, you can just as much fun ‘accessorising’ food you have bought with funny faces or cut into different shapes; there is no end to the fun you can have with party food, and that is just the adults making it! Get the kids involved deciding on a theme and making food to go with it, or have a cooking party, my kids used to love doing this and all the kids would make their own toppings for pizza or decorate cupcakes.

It’s easy to make your own ‘Healthy Fast Food’ like this mini pizza which uses split toasted muffins for the pizza base. Let your child choose his own favourite toppings and he may like to decorate it with a face.

Method Heat the olive oil and sauté the onion for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the tomato puree, sun dried tomato paste and water and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Split the muffins and toast. Preheat the grill to high and spread the tomato sauce over the muffins. Sprinkle over the ham and sweetcorn and cover with the grated cheese.

Preheat the grill to high. Cook the pizzas for 4 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Decorate with your favourite toppings. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Information Makes 2 mini pizzas

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wellbeing

Leading by example: love your children by loving yourself

By Lee McIntosh

I’m not a father, but like you, I was a child once. As an adult I’m able to see that my relationship with my parents helped mould the person I am today.

For better or worse, how our children see us navigating the challenges of life affects their adult lives. Of course we teach our children a number of things, but what better way to instill confidence and self respect than to allow them to observe us showing love and respect for ourselves?

Louise L. Hay, author of the best selling book You Can Heal Your Life, has long since spoken of the connection 1) Stop all criticism.

Don’t criticise yourself or others for anything.

If you make a mistake, learn from it and change the way you do things – don’t waste time putting yourself down.

2) Forgive yourself.

If there’s something your regret, it’s time to let it go and forgive yourself. You did the best you could at that time, now you are growing and changing and you are doing things differently.

3) Don’t scare yourself.

It’s easy to get caught in endless cycles of worry.

Don’t scare yourself by thinking of the worst.

Learn to recognise negative thoughts and replace them with something positive.

4) Be gentle and kind and patient.

Think of someone you love dearly. How do you feel? Learn to feel this way about yourself and be gentle and patient with yourself as you learn new ways of doing things.

5) Be kind to your mind.

If you find your inner critic telling you that

between our formative years and our adult lives, believing that any negative pattern that exists in adult life reflects the dynamics of relationships formed during our childhoods. Louise is considered the matriarch of the ‘self improvement’ market. Her book has sold over 50 million copies since its release in 1985 and many thousands have attended ‘Heal Your Life’ workshops based on her philosophy. She ultimately believes you’re not good enough, realise that it’s only a thought and a thought can be changed. We all do it, but we don’t have to believe it.

6) Praise yourself.

Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can.

Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

7) Support yourself.

Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

8) Be loving to your negatives.

We all have things we’d like to change about ourselves and that’s ok. Accept yourself as you are whilst you find ways to lovingly release the habits that no longer serve you.

9) Take care of your body.

Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise.

What kind of exercise do you enjoy?

London Holistic At London Holistic, we offer regular 1 & 2 Day ‘Heal Your Life’ workshops in London which are approved by Louise L. Hay and offer attendees a chance to go deeper into the philosophy by completing a number of inspiring exercises which include mediation,

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that we teach our children by leading by example. When we show our children that we can set and maintain healthy boundaries, demonstrating self-respect then ultimately our children will learn those behaviours and adopt them as their own.

Louise has created a simple 12-step guide to teach people how to love themselves. The simple steps are as follows: 10) Do mirror work.

Every time you catch sight of yourself in the mirror give yourself a compliment or say ‘I love you’. Learn to cultivate a growing sense of love and respect for yourself.

11) Love yourself. . . Do it now.

Don’t wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship.

Begin now – and do the best you can.

12) Have fun.

Do you remember the things you did as a child that gave you joy? Try to recapture that feeling now by doing things that make you smile. Try to schedule something fun at least once a week.

At the foundation of these principles is the simple belief that learning to love and accept ourselves is the key to lasting happiness. If our children learn to love and respect themselves at a young age because they’ve watched Mum and Dad doing the same, surely they will be more likely to live healthy, balanced lives in their later years.

visual exercises, group and partner work. We also run a number of ‘free introduction‘ talks for those that would like to learn more about the workshop. If you would like to attend one of these workshops, we are offering ‘Families’ readers a 25% discount on the workshop fee.

Please visit our site www.london-holistic.co.uk or call Lee or Lorraine on 0203 3725 428.

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clubs and classes

Clubs & Classes In this section we feature the very best clubs and classes in East London. This season there is a wealth of great clubs and classes to attend. If you would like your class to feature in this section please call 020 8202 2034.

Shouldn’t you be seen in the Number 1 magazine for families and young people in East London?

Contact adverts@familieseast.co.uk.

lessons and eBooks to teach children literacy skills and to make learning phonics and basic reading skills fun.

Hundreds of reading lessons and activities to explore. 3-13 years.

Performing arts Art & Craft V&A MUSEUM Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL ( South Kensington) 020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk Digital Kids May 23-31 Digital art with help from experts.

Limited daily places.

Make It: Sculpture May 25-29 Plaster casting workshop. Booking required. 5-12 years. Cost £7.50 per child accompanied by one adult.

Learning & tuition EXPLORE LEARNING Hornchurch 01708 629 620 Lakeside 01708 869 650 Romford 01708 767 819 Woodford Green 020 8090 6716 explorelearning.co.uk Tuition Centres Tailored courses to support children of all abilities to become confident and engaged learners, providing Maths,

English and 11+ tuition. Children attend centres twice a week on a drop-in basis.

5-14 years.

FLEET TUTORS 0845 644 5452 fleet-tutors.co.uk Tuition Help students reach their potential with private home tutoring.

LA PETITE ÉCOLE DES CROCODILES Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, Hackney E5 OPU 07749 973 791 info@les-crocodiles.org

JIGSAW PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL Ilford, Edmonton 020 8447 4530 jigsaw-arts.co.uk Classes Weekend dance, drama and singing classes with shows and performances.

Two week trial available. 3-18 years.

PERFORM Barbican, Chigwell, Chingford, Epping, Hackney, Loughton, Stoke Newington, Victoria Park, Walthamstow, Wanstead, Woodford Green 0845 400 4000 perform.org.uk enquiries@perform.org.uk

Drama Workshops Weekly workshops in drama, dance and singing. Free trial sessions available.

4-8 years.

THE ANNA FIORENTINI THEATRE & FILM SCHOOL Hackney, Bethnal Green, Docklands.

020 7682 1403 annafiorentini.com Theatre & Film School Drama, singing, dance, film, set and costume design with shows, competitions, annual Oscar Night and holiday schools.

Students get the chance to be considered for professional work. Classes on Saturdays in North London and Hackney, Tuesdays in Bethnal Green, Wednesdays in Docklands and Thursdays in Lewisham.

Fiorentini Weenies for 3-6 years and drama qualifications also available. Check online for ‘taster day’ dates. 4-18 years.

YOUNG & TALENTED Oxford House, Bethnal Green, E2 6HG and Broadway Theatre, Barking, IG11 7LS 020 8556 5348 youngandtalented.co.uk

French French classes for francophone children 0-14 years on Tuesdays & Wednesdays; French for English speaking children on Mondays; Drama in French 8+ years on Saturdays and French library twice monthly. Play, songs and stories for young children; writing, grammar, spelling, reading and drama classes for older children.

READING EGGS readingeggs.co.uk Online Programme Comprehensive range of online reading

To advertise in Families East London please call on 020 8202 2034 or email adverts@familieseast.co.uk

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clubs and classes Classes Acting, singing and dancing classes on Saturdays with theatre productions. 3-16 years in Bethnal Green and 5-19 years in Barking.

Sports FIT FOR SPORT

trytimekidsrugby.com sales@trytimekidsrugby.com

LEE VALLEY RIDING CENTRE 71 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, E10 7QL 020 8556 2629 visitleevalleypark.org.uk

Classes Rugby based play sessions to develop social, mental and physical skills. Free trial class. Experienced coaches. 2-7 years.

Customer Show May 25 Spectators welcome to watch the jumping and showing classes. Refreshments available. Free

Holiday Camps Sports, games and activities.

3-12 years.

Shakespearean Drama Workshop.

May 23 8+ years. Cost £5.

Theatre workshops

TRY TIME KID’S RUGBY

fitforsport.co.uk 0845 456 3233

Up Club May 16, 30, June 20 Saturday club with drop in activities.

4+ years. Free.

Planeta Ka Party June 4 Pre-show drop-in workshops. Bring a soft toy animal. Under 3’s. Cost £4.

One Little Word and A Whole Lot of Noise!

June 13 Post show drop-in music workshops.

Bring a soft toy animal. 3+ years.

Cost £4.

UNICORN THEATRE

Victoria Park, Stratford Dulwich, St Albans, Richmond, Wandsworth 01252 794150

147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ ( London Bridge) 020 7645 0560 unicorntheatre.com

Looney ucing the

Tunes

T R O P S R O F T I F Introd

keep your kids active this summer with fun sports and energetic games

Quote “families” when booking for a 10% discount

BOOK NOW F OR SUMMER CAMPS: www.fitforsport.co.uk

TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s15)

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TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s15)

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0845 456 3233

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How to burn kids’ energy The half-term holidays are approaching and, if your kids are anything like ours, after just an hour indoors they’ll be climbing the walls.

But don’t despair! There are so many things to do, from play centres to sports clubs to creating your own fun, and many of them are free!

Check out our guide to burning off some of your kids’ energy.

• W hy not try a new, fun activity? From cricket to tennis, football to drama, athletics to trampolining or even dry-slope skiing, there are hundreds around. Many clubs and classes offer free trials, why not try one, and then book an ongoing class?

• V isit a museum. From the British Museum to the V&A, museums offer a huge range of activities, almost all of which are free. Museums don’t have to be quiet or sedentary activities – most of them run children’s workshops, some of which can be very energetic! Visit the Vikings at the British Museum, go for treasure hunts in the Geffrye Museum gardens, go on an

By Joanna Parry

expedition at the Horniman Museum, explore army life at the National Army Museum, and much, much more.

• D on’t forget the park. Acres of room to run around in, trees to climb and most with children’s playgrounds. Best of all, they are free!

• O r the lido… Often inexpensive, lidos can make a great day out when the weather is good. Many parks also have paddling pools too.

• If the weather is not so great why not try an indoor swimming pool or go-karting or even ice skating? Indoor play centres can seem pricey, but if you get there early before they get busy and stay for most of the day, they can be great value for money • M ake up your own games! It’s creative, you’ll have great fun with your kids, and it’s completely free. Organise a treasure hunt in the park, have a trampolining competition in the garden or set up an obstacle course, invite some friends over and give them a scavenger hunt to get stuck into. Go geocaching (similar to a treasure hunt, where you use a GPS to find a hidden treasure), divide your brood into two teams and start a water fight, fly a kite,

pitch a tent and fill the paddling pool, or run your own Sports Day • I f it’s bucketing down there’s still plenty of fun to be had (and energy to be expended) indoors. Have a Games Day and challenge your kids to get through a number of board games or table tennis sessions in a day. Make dens or castles out of cardboard boxes, then decorate them. Have a disco – all you need is your best dancing queen outfit and an iPod. Treasure hunts can be just as fun indoors as out, or you can even get the kids running up and down the stairs if you’re really stuck!

Make a movie or build a den or just put on the wellies and waterproofs and go splashing about in the rain The real trick to have peace, bizarrely, is to have MORE children at your place. They are more likely to engage in games and run around than if they are with you only!

Share-A-Story This May welcomes the annual National Share-A-Story Month, a rousing celebration of the power of storytelling and story sharing. Run by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, it is a wonderful opportunity to bring children and stories together. There are a whole host of events running across the country, from storytelling workshops to craft activities and puppet shows, and this year the theme for National Share-AStory Month is Dragons! Find out about the culture of Chinese, Welsh and Viking dragons in stories and poems, explore myths and legends about dragons, and even discover what a dragon might like for tea. Take a look at the website for loads of ideas, activity packs, posters and Dragon competition prizes. www.fcbg.org.uk/ national-share-a-story-month

Volunteer this year Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK – and it’s taking place from the 1-7 June this year.

Volunteering can make a real difference to your own life and the lives of those around you, but it’s important for anyone

thinking about giving their time to find a volunteering opportunity which is right for them, whether it’s supporting a victim of crime or helping out at a local sports club.

There are loads of events going on up and down the country to help inspire you during Volunteer’s Week, or alternatively you can contact your local Volunteer Centre at any time, an ideal place to start your volunteering career.

To find out more go to volunteersweek.org or email volunteersweek@ncvo.org.uk

To advertise in Families East London please call on 020 8202 2034 or email adverts@familieseast.co.uk

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book corner

Room

Reading

Ed’s

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Summer book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online and from good bookstores.

Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools.

For ages 5-7 yeaRS

5-7

adventure in the super Foxy Tales series.

This exciting story about two fantastic characters is enhanced by brilliant illustrations.’

Rascal: Lost in the Caves

by Chris Cooper (Egmont £5.99)

Ed says: ‘Rascal is having a great holiday with Joel and his family. He only wants to have fun but sometimes he gets into trouble and Joel has to smooth things out.

They discover a cave which looks exciting but Rascal feels wary of going inside. However it is so tempting, the next morning they go back to explore.

Soon they find themselves in great danger.

Will they be able to find their way out of this frightening place?

‘This is the start of Rascal’s adventures with Joel. It is a real page-turner for both boys and girls. For more stories about Rascal look out for the other books in this series.’

Foxy Tales: The Great Jail Break

by Caryl Hart and Alex T Smith (Hodder £4.99)

Ed says: ‘Foxy DuBois and Alphonso the Alligator are back!

The unlikely duo come across sacks full of money which they think is fantastic but will surely only spell trouble.

They soon find themselves in front of a judge who sentences them to six months in jail. There they meet Eric-the-Evil and they try to come up with ingenious ways to escape but they soon realise they will need more than a Get Out of Jail Free card.

‘Laugh out loud as you follow the latest

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FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

7+

Beasts of Olympus: Beast Keeper

by Lucy Coats (Piccadilly £5.99)

arrives in the house next to their orchard she has a feeling that this summer her whole life could change. Could the spell of Twig’s family secret that makes them hide away be broken? And could Twig find herself surrounded by the family and friends she so much craves?

‘This is a beautifully written book by a highly accomplished author. You may find yourself bewitched by this magical and compelling story.’

Ed says: ‘Demon adores looking after animals. When his father, the Greek god Pan, takes him to Olympus to be a stable boy for the gods he feels as if life has changed – and not for the better.

The stables are very smelly, the creatures are extremely difficult and the food is absolutely disgusting – and Demon is really missing his home. Will he be able to sort out the chaos in the stables and make his father proud? And will the feast of the gods live up to its name?

‘This is a very funny story set in Ancient Greece. It introduces several wellknown mythical creatures and is enhanced by imaginative illustrations.’

Nightbird

by Alice Hoffman (Simon & Schuster £7.99)

www.familieseast.co.uk

Ed says: ‘Twig loves living in Sidwell, Massachusetts, but she is quiet and shy and has never really had a friend.

When a new family

Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI awardwinning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating.

You are very welcome to contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at maggiehumphreys@aol.com.

Calling all Young Writers!

Do you know a young author? The National Young Writers’ Awards judges are looking for the best short story (up to 500 words) based around this years theme of ‘Strange Events and Peculiar Happenings’. The winner of the competition will receive £500 of books for their school and a trip to Disneyland Paris! The annual awards, run by tuition company Explore Learning, are now in their 7th year. This year’s judge is renowned author of the Book of Norm series of books, Jonathan Meres.

To enter visit www.explorelearning. co.uk/youngwriters

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cinema • museums • exhibitions places to go

Places To Go

Your guide to East London Family Entertainment

Welcome to our great seasonal guide of all the very best places for you to visit. We hope you enjoy all your days out. To advertise in this section call 020 8202 2034 or email adverts@familieseast.co.uk.

Cinema BARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS ( Barbican) 020 7638 4141 barbican.org.uk/film/families Muppet Treasure Island (U) May 16 Framed Film Club screenings for children.

Cost £2.

Mr Men and Little Miss Shorts Programme (U) May 23 Spirited Away (PG) May 30 The Spongebob Movie Out of Water 2D (U) June 6 Smashing Shorts (U) June 13

BFI SOUTHBANK

Film Fun May 26, 27, 28 Film making workshops to create detective dramas. 12-15 years. Cost £27.50.

VESTRY HOUSE MUSEUM Vestry Road, Walthamstow, E17 9NH 020 8496 4391 walthamforest.gov.uk Walthamstow International Film Festival June 7 Short films made by amateurs and professionals suitable for family viewing.

Free.

Museums & Exhibitions BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XT ( Waterloo) 020 7928 3232 bfi.org.uk/families

Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH ( Bank) 020 7601 5545 bankofengland.co.uk

Emil and the Detectives May 24, 26 Cost £11.75/ £4 under 16’s/ £10 adult + child.

Magical Mosaics May 26-29 Make a mosaic taking inspiration from the exhibition.

Basil the Great Mouse Detective May 25, May 31 with messy time workshop. Cost £11.75/ £4 under 16’s/ £10 adult + child. Workshop £5.

Open Door July 4, 11 Guided tours as part of the City of London Festival.

Flora and Fauna Exhibition on plants and animals connected with the Bank.

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG ( Tottenham Court Road) 020 7323 8000 britishmuseum.org Indigenous Australian Adventures May 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 Free drop-in sessions with creative activities and stories based around the exhibition.

Indigenous Australia Exhibition Exhibition charting the relationships Indigenous Australians have with the natural world. Cost £10 / children free.

CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM 48 Doughty Street, WC1N 2LX ( Russell Square) 020 7405 2127 dickensmuseum.com May Half Term May 26 Craft activities, dressing up and exploring with Dickensian creations – make decorations and bunting.

Cally Fest June 14 Catch the Charles Dickens Museum at Cally Fest in Caledonian Road.

Queen Square Fair July 4 Museum to take part in Victorian themed festival in WC1N 3AQ.

DISCOVER CHILDREN’S STORY CENTRE 383-387 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ ( Stratford) 020 8536 5555 discover.org.uk Tickets £5/family (4) £18/ Newham Residents £4.50/ under 2 years free.

Events are pre-bookable.

Discover Children’s Story Centre

Once There Was…The Wonderful World of Oliver Jeffers Until September 6 Oliver Jeffers’ magical worlds in an interactive family exhibition bringing his picture books to life. Play favourite scenes from How to Catch a Star, Up and Down, Lost and Found and The Way Back Home.

6 years and under.

Boat, Plane; Home Again Short sessions designed for babies inspired by the exhibition, with songs and rhymes. 0-3 years.

The Flying Bath May 16, 17

By Julia Donaldson and David Roberts.

Join the Story Builder on an adventure in the magical flying bath. 3+ years.

The Hueys in... by Oliver Jeffers May 23-25 Join Story Builder in a weekend dedicated to their own little world of all three of The Hueys in... books. Make a new jumper for little Huey, and create mathematical mayhem in the garden. 3+ years / workshops 6+ years.

Timmy Failure with Stephan Pastis May 25 Join Stephan Pastis creator of the Timmy Failure series. 7+ years.

Oliver Jeffers Week May 25-31 Storytelling events and craft activities based on Oliver Jeffers’ stories.

The Great Paper Caper

by Oliver Jeffers May 27, 31 Story Builder for 3+ years, and paper airplane making workshop for 6+ years.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy May 28, 29

By Oliver Jeffers – Henry loves books so much that he eats them! But what will happen when he can’t eat anymore?

3+ years.

Blown Away with Rob Biddulph May 30 Author and illustration event. Meet Penguin Blue and his friends. 4+ years.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM Kingsland Road, E2 8EA ( Old Street or Hoxton 020 7739 9893 geffrye-museum.org.uk

)

Give Me Shelter May 26-29 Activities based on different types of shelters past and present. Make nest hats, Victorian paper dolls and animal homes.

5-16 years.

Nursery Rhyme Time – Safe Shelters May 26-29 Stories, songs and activities based around different types of homes. 2-5 years.

To advertise in Families East London please call on 020 8202 2034 or email adverts@familieseast.co.uk

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places to go museums • exhibitions • theatres • concerts

Charles Dickens Museum

Homes of the Homeless: Seeking Shelter in Victorian London Until July 12 Exhibition on how the poor lived in Victorian London. Cost £5/£3.

MUSEUM OF LONDONDOCKLANDS West India Quay, E14 4AL (DLR West India Quay) 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands Half Term Fun May 23-31 Craft, drama, stories and art workshops based on London’s theatrical East End. 0-11 years. Free events.

VESTRY HOUSE MUSEUM Vestry Road, Walthamstow, E17 9NH 020 8496 4391 walthamforest.gov.uk Holiday Fun May 27 Activities based on museum displays. Free drop-in.

Midsummer Masquerade June 14 Create masks and join in a masked parade. Free.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA ( Bethnal Green) 020 8983 5200 museumofchildhood.org.uk

Small Stories Tour and Tea May 20, June 3, 10 17 Enjoy tea and scones and a guided tour of the Small Stories exhibition.

Adults only. Cost £16.

Theatre Shows & Concerts

May Half Term May 25-29 Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with various activities, costumes and storytelling. Book on the day. Free and ticketed events.

Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS ( 020 7638 4141 barbican.org.uk

The Alice Look Until November 1 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland exhibition with photographs, rare editions and illustrations.

WHITECHAPEL GALLERY 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX ( Aldgate East) 020 7522 7888 whitechapelgallery.org Storytelling Through Photographs May 27, 28 Creative activities in a photographic studio with artist Marysa Dowling.

9-12 years. Total cost £58.

The Factory of Images May 30 Free family day based on the photography exhibition.

Crib Notes June 10 Special exhibition tours suitable for parents and carers of children under 5 years. Cost £5 includes refreshments.

WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 4PP ) (Walthamstow Central 020 8496 4390 wmgallery.org.uk Dementia Awareness Week May 20, 21 Special activities for those with dementia and their carers. Booking may be required.

African Wax Fabric May 30 Family day with fun activities.

Free drop-in.

Pond Dipping July 9 Play sessions for children under 5 years.

Booking essential.

BARBICAN CENTRE Barbican)

To Kill a Mockingbird June 24-July 25 Stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s prizewinning novel.7+ years. Cost £19-£60.

HACKNEY EMPIRE 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ (Hackney Central ) 020 8985 2424 hackneyempire.co.uk Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure June 6-7 Live on stage for the very first time in an action-packed musical interactive show.

Cost £13.50-£15.50 /£54 family ticket for 4 top price seats.

Pirates of Penzance June 24-28 Musical classic. Cost £10-£27.50.

HALFMOON THEATRE 43 White Horse Road, E1 OND (Stepney Green/Limehouse ) 020 7709 8900 halfmoon.org.uk Big Red Bath July 1-6 A bubbly, barmy bath time adventure – around the world and home again, celebrating all things bath time. 2-5 years.

Cost £6.

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Blomfield Road, Little Venice, W9 2PF ( Warwick Avenue) 020 7249 6876 puppetbarge.com Fowl Play May 23-July 5 Excitement and adventure down on the farm. 3+ years. Cost £12/£8.50.

RICH MIX CINEMA & ARTS CENTRE 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA ( Liverpool Street) 020 7613 7498 richmix.org.uk Afro Grooves Workshop May 17, June 21 African dance movements. Cost £10/£5/ family of four £10.

Grand Union Youth Orchestra June 14, July 12 Performances and workshops for young musicians. To join complete online application. 12-26 years. Free.

Bengal to Bethnal Green June 14, July 12 Music based on Bengali songs. Free concert.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD ( Covent Garden) 020 7304 4000 roh.org.uk Family Sundays May 31, June 28

‘Big Red Bath’ at the Half Moon Theatre

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‘Blown Away’ at Discover Children’s Story Centre

Regular events for families to explore opera and ballet with singing and dance activities. Book in advance. Tours also available to ticket holders on a first-comefirst served basis. Cost £5/£3.

SOUTH BANK CENTRE Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX ( Waterloo) 020 7960 4200 southbankcentre.co.uk Udderbelly Festival Until July 19 Comedy, circus and theatre shows.

Arabian Nights May 23, 24 Royal Festival Hall. Stories, puppets, music and magic. Part of the Alchemy festival exploring South Asian influence. 5+ years.

Cost £14/£7.

Youth Dance Competition May 25 Clore Ballroom. South Asian youth dance demonstrations. Free.

SPITALFIELDS MUSIC 61 Brushfield Street, E1 6AA ( Liverpool Street) 020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk Spitalfields Music Festival June 6-21 Free and ticketed music events including family shows from various venues around East London. Check website for full programme of events.

STRATFORD CIRCUS Theatre Square, Stratford, E15 1BX ( Stratford) 0844 357 2625 stratford-circus.com Bedtime Stories May 28 29, 30 Circus theatre and dance. Circus workshops for show ticket holders at extra cost. 5+ years. Tickets £10/ £8/ family £30.

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ ( London Bridge) 020 7645 0560 unicorntheatre.com Planeta Ka Until June 4 Discover a new environment with sound, textures and visual effects. 1-3 years. No over 3’s allowed. Pre-show workshop in the foyer. Bring a soft toy animal.

Cost £10 includes 2 adults per child / workshop £4.

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theatres • concerts • special events places to go Admission charges apply – check discounts for Dads online.

OLD SPITALFIELDS MARKET Horner Square, E1 6EW openthegate.org.uk The African Market May 23, June 27 Original and handcrafted designs.

OPEN FARM SUNDAY farmsunday.org June 7 Farming industry´s national open day to help understand how food is produced.

Visit a farm and take part in a range of events, walks and activities.

STEPNEY CITY FARM Stepney Way, E1 3DG ( Stepney Green) 020 7790 8204 stepneycityfarm.org Farm Tours May 23, June 27 Cost £2/ £1.

Crafty Saturdays June 6, July 4 Rural arts workshops. Some activities suitable for 8+ years.

The Breaker’s Yard at Sutton House

Henry the Fifth May 17-31 A modern, fun and inventive take on Shakespeare’s play. 8+ years. Cost £16/£10. Workshop £5.

One Little Word June 6-21 Two characters play well together, but there’s a bit of a struggle when one of them wants to be the only captain of the ship! 3+ years. Cost £16/£10 / family 20% discount for 4 tickets. Workshop £4.

Ancient Mechanicals June 29-July 4 Interactive exhibition – science, history and invention. 7+ years. Cost £3 per child / £5 child + adult / free teacher tickets for school visits.

Special Events BIG LUNCH thebiglunch.com June 7 An annual get together for neighbours and local community groups. Free starter pack available with online registration.

Giant picnic event with family games and entertainment at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

CITY OF LONDON FESTIVAL colf.org

June 22-July 10 A range of activities, music, walks, lectures and films at various London venues.

FESTIVAL OF BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY archaeologyfestival.org.uk July 11-26 25th anniversary celebrations to explore archaeology in local areas, coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology.

GREENWICH & DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL festival.org June 26-July 5 Outdoor performing arts festival.

GREENWICH CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL royalgreenwich.gov.uk May 23-31 Theatre festival with Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre and Greenwich Theatre – workshops, puppets and family events at local venues.

Open Farm Sunday June 7

SUTTON HOUSE NATIONAL TRUST 2 & 4 Homerton High St, Hackney E9 6JQ

Big Days Out May 31, June 28 Costume, art workshops and garden games. Free events at Sutton House and Breaker’s Yard. Check online for more details.

TOWER HAMLETS NCT BRANCH nct.org.uk/branches/towerhamlets nct.org.uk/courses Baby First Aid Course June 6, July 4 At St Paul, Old Ford.

Weekly Coffee Group Organised by postcode but anyone can attend. E14 on Mondays at hosts’ home or local café. E1 & E2 on Tuesdays at hosts’ home or local café. E1W fortnightly on Fridays at Wapping Children’s Centre.

E3 on Fridays at hosts’ home or Anchor and Hope on Roman Road. Contact facebook page for information.

VALENTINES MANSION & GARDENS Emerson Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4XA ( Gants Hill) 020 8708 8100 valentinesmansion.com Open Studios May 31 Family workshops and demonstrations.

Free.

Magical Mosaics

Free admission

26–29 May 10:00am–4:30pm

LEE VALLEY PARK FARMS Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EF (Cheshunt ) 01992 892 781 visitleevalley.org.uk/farms Sheep Week May 25-29 Learn all about these woolly farm animals.

Entrance charges apply.

Petunia’s Pick – Ben & Holly at the Farms June 14 Appearances from Ben & Holly throughout the day. Meet the animals and visit the indoor and outdoor play areas. Advance booking available.

‘Henry the Fifth’ at the Unicorn Theatre

Big Lunch Event June 7

( Bethnal Green) 020 8986 2264 nationaltrust.org.uk/suttonhouse

Petunia’s Pick – Father’s Day June 21 Special Father’s Day celebrations – meet farmyard parents and their babies.

Learn about the colourful mosaics that decorate the ground floor of the Bank. Join a creative workshop and make your own mosaic to take home, with designs inspired by the animals and plants featured in the Museum’s Flora and Fauna exhibition.

10:00am–5:00pm Share your experience Monday to Friday. @boemuseum Closed weekends and Bank Holidays. Entrance T: 020 7601 5545 in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

To advertise in Families East London please call on 020 8202 2034 or email adverts@familieseast.co.uk

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Knowing how fussy little ones can be, Annabel’s range is developed tastes good and will, most importantly, be eaten!

Available in supermarkets nationwide

www.annabelkarmel.com